Lottery a big hit despite down economy

Despite rising unemployment in Jackson County, residents are buying lottery tickets like crazy -- more than $35 million last year alone.

On average in 2007, adults in Jackson County spent $283 on scratch-offs, Mega millions tickets, Keno and other games.

"It's interesting that it (playing the lottery) is going up," said Patricia Burbank, a licensed professional counselor in Jackson County. "It speaks to the fact that people are desperate. Even though it's a long shot, it's better than having no hope at all for them."

Consider this information culled from data received under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act:

• From 2005 to 2007, the amount of money residents spent on the lottery jumped from $30 million to $35 million; meanwhile, unemployment jumped from 6.8 percent to 7.6 percent. It was 8.3 percent last month.

• While Jackson County sales accounted for less than 2 percent of the statewide total in 2007, that number is growing. Since 2005, sales in the county increased 14 percent, while statewide sales have increased by less than 8 percent.

• More than $14 million was spent in instant tickets in Jackson County last year.

• Patrons in Jackson County bars and restaurants spent more than $7 million last year playing Club Keno.

• The 212 lottery retailers in the county benefited from more than $2.5 million in sales and winning ticket commissions last year.

In other words, the lottery is big business in Jackson County.

The motivation

Experts and players say people are drawn to the lottery for many reasons.

For one, many do not view it negatively because it is run by the state and the cost is relatively low.

"This is seen as safe. It's state-sanctioned gambling," said Burbank, who has spent the last 23 years in the counseling field, mostly in addiction work, and has her own practice, Solutions Counseling. "But that doesn't mean it can't become a problem."

The economy, believe it or not, has likely contributed to the uptick in playing. As times get tougher, people are apt to look for any way to improve their situation.

The reason Lynn Stiles of Jackson plays the lottery is simple.

"To win money, so I can get ahead," she said. "I don't need to live large like the rich people, but I'd like to not have to worry about money."

Another likely factor in the county's increase last year was the sale of two million-dollar winning tickets at Jackson's Ground Round.

"It's been a good success for us," general manager Dennis Slaby said.

Hopeful lottery players drove from all over the state to purchase a ticket at the restaurant, and the local winners likely also gave area residents more hope.

People are more likely to play, Burbank said, if they know of someone who has "hit it big."

Who wins?

The major winner, of course, is the state of Michigan. Statewide, more than $2.2 billion was spent on the lottery in 2007, and prizes awarded amounted to $1.2 billion. The state also contributed $748.9 million to Michigan schools last year, lottery spokeswoman Cristina Burnham said.

"It's everyone's individual choice to spend their money how they see fit," she said.

She said she doesn't think it is a problem that some people who have less disposable income due to the poor economy are spending more on the lottery.

To keep people interested, Burnham said the lottery works to create new games, like the Millionaire Raffle. It also introduced 70 new instant games in 2007.

The average Joe occasionally gets lucky as well.

The amount of money won in Jackson County in 2007 -- more than $22 million -- is a 47 percent increase since 2005. There has also been an 18 percent increase in the number of winners.

A portion of those winnings went to David Wilson of Parma who bought one of the million-dollar winning tickets at Ground Round last year.

Wilson, who said he would recommend the lottery to others, said some have told him they play the lottery more now because he won.

"If it happened to me, it could happen to anyone," he said.

Wilson said he still plays the lottery about as often as he did before he won the big one, but hasn't won much.

"Nothing I've had to drive to Lansing for at least," he said.

Since he cashed in the winning ticket, Wilson and his wife have been prudent in dealing with their new-found fortune.

They paid all of their bills, upgraded their vehicles -- though they didn't buy brand new, -- gave money to their church, made charitable contributions and made some investments.

"We put the rest away," he said.

They still have a house payment, but the winnings have allowed them to develop a financial cushion they didn't have before.

"The greatest thing that's happened to us is that we achieved a comfort level," he said.

Glenn Hale of Jackson has won $10,000 once with the Daily 4, won $3,500 at least a half dozen times on the Daily 3, he said.

"I'm behind (overall)," he said. "You lose a lot, but I like to win."

Hale stopped into the Party Port on a recent day, and the cashier knew immediately what numbers Hale was going to play. He just needed confirmation.

"Do my regulars," Hale said.

A couple clicks on the orange lottery machine and a few minutes later, Hale handed over $33 to pay for his tickets.

He said he usually spends $18 in the morning and $18 at night on the lottery each day.

Ed Smith of Parma hasn't been as lucky, but has played occasionally for the past 20 years. He usually plays instant tickets and the raffles, he said.

"I do it for the adventure," Smith said. "It's just fun."

The lottery is also good for segments of the local economy, including bars, gas stations and party stores.

"Our sales continue to grow," said the Ground Round's Slaby. "It helps especially in the bar area. It's great entertainment."

At R-R Mini Mart, which opened in October in the former Buddy's station at 505 N. West Ave., co-owner Rachelle Jester said in the age of debit cards that allow customers to pay at the pump, the lottery is one of the best ways to draw customers.

"We see regulars all the time," she said.

She said her cashiers start processing their tickets when they come in, which saves the customers time, and they usually return the favor by purchasing pop, snacks and cigarettes while the cashier is finishing up.

Billy Singh, manager of The Party Port, said a mixture of high gas prices and good luck helped make his store the top selling instant -- or scratch-off -- ticket destination in the county last year.

The store, at 2123 Lansing Ave., sold $391,300 worth of tickets in 2007, according to the state lottery.

Singh said they were aided by the fact that last year a customer purchased a winning Super Red Hot Cashword instant ticket worth $300,000, and they also sold a $30,000 winning ticket.

"People want to go to where the lucky store is," Singh said. "We go through lots of tickets here."

Good fun or bad habit?

Some of Jester's regular customers at Buddy's come into her store for certain scratch-off tickets -- but will move on to another store if Jester doesn't have the right ones.

Others will occasionally come in and spend more on the lottery than they do on filling up their gas tank.

"It's funny how they justify it," she said. "For some people it's a priority."

She said some will budget it into their monthly expenses as they would the electric bill or house payment.

Burbank said not everyone who plays the lottery has a gambling problem of course.

"That person realizes there is some long shot in it, but it's fun," Burbank said. "As it moves into a problem, there is a compulsion that comes into it."